Champagne is generally associated with feelings of euphoric excess and the special occasions that prompt them -- New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, birthdays, promotions. Even if you're in the mood to splurge, a large crowd or a tight budget can prompt the pursuit of cheap Champagne. From France to Spain, Italy, and California, there's enough excellent bubbly to go around for $10 or less. The challenge lies in knowing what you're buying. We considered online reviews and ratings from a variety of sources and consulted a wine expert to come up with our top picks.

If you think cheap white wine is only for grandma's spritzer, think again. There's a white wine -- costing no more than $10 to satisfy almost anyone's palate. Inexpensive white wines can complement a range of foods, brighten up a lazy summer afternoon, and make an excellent substitute for pre-dinner cocktails. White wines typically present fruity and/or floral flavors and aromas, sometimes offer a bit of spice and earthiness, and range in sugar content from bone dry to dessert-level sweet. We've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, and awards, on top of expert advice, and suspect wine drinkers will find at least one selection to suit both their sipping preferences and their budget.

Who needs a premium red wine when a thoroughly respectable bottle costs $10 or less? Frugal quaffers who know even a little bit about wine and aren't afraid to go with what they like will find many such bottles. There are hundreds of cheap red wines out there -- some barely worth the few dollars you'd pay but many worth drinking. With so many styles, grape varieties, producers, and labels to choose among, shopping can be a challenge. To guide wine drinkers through the thicket, we've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, awards, and expert advice. We've also selected a wide array of other inexpensive red wines fit to serve with a meal, bring to a party, or sip over the course of a quiet evening.

Toro Power Shovel Review

Definitely not meant for heavy work, this lightweight, light power electric shovel has a telescoping handle and should clear a 12-inch path in up to 6 inches of snow. Users say it works well on smaller areas where a big snow blower won't fit, but gripe that holding the "on" button while clearing the snow gets tiring.

The Toro Power Shovel (starting at $99, Amazon) helps lots of people get through snowy winters. Designed for clearing light snow, it also works wonders on deeper accumulations in small spaces like decks, porches, stairs, and between parked cars, according Toro Power Shovel reviews. The specs suggest using this cheap electric shovel in no more than 6 inches of snow, and consumers report in Toro Power Shovel reviews on Amazon that it easily blows through that much powdery snow but slows a bit when set against denser snow or icy crystals; one says that the plastic impeller blades aren't suited for packed snow. Deeper snows pose more of a challenge but can be vanquished, users assert. Reviews on Home Depot, for example, suggest attacking deep snow by layering off several inches at a time. One user, however, reports feeling some achiness the next day from holding the shovel aloft as he worked. Another common strategy involves shoveling at intervals during the course of a storm. This cheap snow shovel also scores points with users for its light weight and compact size. Women and seniors claim it's easy to operate and one reviewer says it's much like vacuuming.
This snow shovel is not without its faults. Two stand out: the straight-on throw and the lack of a lock for the trigger. It's all too easy to blow the same snow over and over, say Toro Power Shovel 38361 reviews, because the discharge points forward. The front-only discharge is a really big problem if the wind is blowing the snow toward you. Experts at suggest starting at the center of the driveway and aiming the Power Shovel towards the sides. Users note that trial-and-error eventually leads to an efficient snow-clearing strategy for your property, such as holding the unit at a slight angle or walking at an angle. Another irritant, according to reviews, is having to actively hold the power button "on" as you proceed. Doing so while shaving a top layer of deep snow is particularly tiring, one reports; another says a longer switch that you could hold with your hand instead of just fingers would be an improvement. A few consumers also wish for wheels to facilitate pushing.
This inexpensive power shovel weighs less than 13 pounds and appeals to consumers who don't feel capable of handling a large, wheeled snow blower. It's compact enough to store almost anywhere, including a closet in the house or from a hook in the garage. The 13.5-inch assembled width makes it slightly wider than a regular shovel; it clears a path 12 inches across and up to 6 inches deep. The electric Toro Power Shovel features 7.5 amps of power that can process up to 300 pounds of snow a minute and throw it up to 20 feet ahead. The telescoping handle can be adjusted for height and angle. The body and critical components are plastic.
This is a good choice for light-duty snow removal and detail work. As long as you understand the limitations of the Toro Power Shovel, you will not be disappointed. For the most part, it beats the manual shovel by a mile.

This snow shovel is not without its faults. Two stand out: the straight-on throw and the lack of a lock for the trigger. It's all too easy to blow the same snow over and over, say Toro Power Shovel 38361 reviews, because the discharge points forward. The front-only discharge is a really big problem if the wind is blowing the snow toward you. Experts at suggest starting at the center of the driveway and aiming the Power Shovel towards the sides. Users note that trial-and-error eventually leads to an efficient snow-clearing strategy for your property, such as holding the unit at a slight angle or walking at an angle. Another irritant, according to reviews, is having to actively hold the power button "on" as you proceed. Doing so while shaving a top layer of deep snow is particularly tiring, one reports; another says a longer switch that you could hold with your hand instead of just fingers would be an improvement. A few consumers also wish for wheels to facilitate pushing.

This inexpensive power shovel weighs less than 13 pounds and appeals to consumers who don't feel capable of handling a large, wheeled snow blower. It's compact enough to store almost anywhere, including a closet in the house or from a hook in the garage. The 13.5-inch assembled width makes it slightly wider than a regular shovel; it clears a path 12 inches across and up to 6 inches deep. The electric Toro Power Shovel features 7.5 amps of power that can process up to 300 pounds of snow a minute and throw it up to 20 feet ahead. The telescoping handle can be adjusted for height and angle. The body and critical components are plastic.

Where to buy

This is a good choice for light-duty snow removal and detail work. As long as you understand the limitations of the Toro Power Shovel, you will not be disappointed. For the most part, it beats the manual shovel by a mile.

Elizabeth Sheer

Elizabeth Sheer is a Brooklyn-based writer and researcher. In addition to researching and writing about household appliances and other consumer items, Elizabeth draws on her history of preparing cooking-related articles to conduct taste tests on all things delicious.